New budget carrier Akasa Air takes to air
08 Aug 2022
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India’s latest budget carrier, Akasa Air, took to air today days after the civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) handed over the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to the airline tin July this year.
Union minister for civil aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia along with MoS General Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd.) flagged of the airline’s maiden flight on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route.
The maiden flight took off from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 10:05 am and landed at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 11:25 am.
Akasa Air, which is backed by ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala also on Friday opened ticket bookings for its first commercial flights with an initial network in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kochi. Tickets for all are open for sale with immediate effect.
Bookings for flights are available via the mobile app, and its website www.akasaair.com.
The airline launched operations by offering 28 weekly flights between Mumbai and Ahmedabad starting 7 August 2022.
Starting 13 August, the airline will start operating an additional 28 weekly flights between Bengaluru and Kochi.
"We are extremely excited to finally be able to offer up our flights for sale. We are also excited to reveal our product which promises to be unlike anything experienced in the category thus far. With Akasa employees providing warm and efficient customer service, a reliable and dependable network, and affordable fares - we look forward to serving our customers with a flying experience that I am sure they will find delightful", Vinay Dube, founder and chief executive officer, Akasa Air, said.
"Akasa Air's network strategy is focused on establishing a strong pan-India presence and providing linkages from metro to tier 2 and tier 3 cities across the country," Praveen Iyer, co-founder and chief commercial officer, Akasa Air, said.
In July, ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed airline received the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The grant of the AOC is the final step of a comprehensive and rigorous process laid down by the DGCA and marks the satisfactory completion of all regulatory and compliance requirements for the airline's operational readiness.
Akasa Air has aligned its operations with the nation’s mission of making air travel affordable through PM Modi’s Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik initiative.
With a fleet induction plan of two 737 MAX aircraft each month, the airline is looking to establish a strong pan-India presence, with a focus on metro to tier 2 & 3 route connectivity. The fleet size will be raised to 18 aircraft by the end of March 2023 and over the next four years, the airline will add 54 aircraft, taking its total fleet size to 72.
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